Muzaffarpur Sikki Golden Grass Craft Mithila

Sikki is a golden grass (Cyperus species) grown in the marshes of North Bihar's Gandak basin and harvested for weaving into decorative dolls, toys, containers, and ritual objects by women of the Maithili Brahmin and Kayastha communities of Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, and Sitamarhi districts. Sikki craftswomen coil and stitch the slender golden grass stalks using a needle and coloured thread to create intricate objects including the dula-dulhin (bridal couple) figures gifted at weddings and the kohbar ritual room figurines used at Maithili marriage ceremonies. Sikki craft received a Geographical Indication tag from the Government of India; Bihar's handicraft development programme markets sikki art at Surajkund mela and international craft fairs.